scholarly journals Evidence-Based Preparedness for Post COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yayehyirad Kitaw ◽  
Mirgissa Kaba
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Health Care Infrastructure ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Improved Methods

In spite of skepticisms at various levels, the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented impact on global health and economy. Although projections have yet to materialize, African countries are not at their worst with COVID-19. Yet, the worst is probably in the making despite swift, progressive, and adaptable responses many African countries have taken based on lessons from countries affected by the pandemic earlier. While efforts are underway to contain the current pandemic, the almost certain hit by another pandemic may call for appropriate preparation. This review aims to shade light on the need to align current COVID-19 prevention and management with preparation for the potential next one. A rapid review of available evidence was undertaken using clearly defined inclusion criteria and data analysis methods. The immediate focus of preparedness is coordination of interventions where evidence generation, policy making, public and private sector as well as community engagement is required to contain the current COVID-19 pandemic. Improved/adapted mathematical projections to guide decisions; improved/adapted methods for risk communication and community engagement; improved methods/technologies for surveillance, case detection and containment; optimal use of all the limited available resources; and strengthening partnerships at all levels need to be strengthened. Current endeavors should pay attention to strengthen the surveillance system for early detection; provision of adequate health care infrastructure; strong and capable health workforce and financing. Furthermore, strengthen research capacity to play its role to shape the post-COVID-19 is critical by strengthening inter and intra-disciplinary research capacities; forging partnerships at all levels. Evidently COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenge to the globe at large. Yet, it also offered opportunities to reassess existing health system vis-à-vis the pandemics. Besides, useful lessons from COVID-19 are that it does not discriminate human beings across globe by economy, political system and socio-cultural backgrounds. This is a useful lesson for global solidarity and align efforts to contain post COVID-19 implications as well as to prevent and manage similar such pandemics in the future.

EXPLORING THE HR PROFESSIONALS’ EMPLOYEE ADVOCATE ROLE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: The case of Malawi

2012 ◽  
Vol 02 (12) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Rhoda Cynthia Bakuwa
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Private Sector Organizations ◽  
Public And Private Sector

This study specifically explored the key factors that significantly influence the performance of the employee advocate role by HR professionals in a developing country context – Malawi. The study used a standardised questionnaire administered to a random sample of 305 respondents (95 HR professionals, 121 line managers, and 89 employees) drawn from public and private sector organizations in Malawi. The standard multiple regression results revealed that the perception that HR professionals perform the employee advocate role was mainly influenced by the HR professionals’ ability to motivate employees through organizing regular staff meetings. The main implication of the results of this study is that organization of regular staff meetings to listen to the views and concerns of employees is fundamental to the enhancement of the HR professionals’ employee advocate role. Such meetings provide an opportunity for the employees to have their views and concerns heard which is in line with the current wave of democratic dispensation and freedom of expression in many African countries.

scholarly journals Nanotechnology – Intentionality and Free-Will

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (Issue 3) ◽  
pp. 106-114
Author(s):  
T. V. Gopal
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Body Modification ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Public And Private Sector ◽  
Religious Reasons

Body modification (or body alteration) is the wilful altering of the human body by an individual in a way that lasts forever or for a very long time. This is usually for non-medical reasons that include sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, aesthetic reasons, denoting affiliation, trust and loyalty, religious reasons, shock value, and self-expression. It can range from the socially acceptable decoration (e.g., pierced ears or nose in many societies) to the religiously mandated. Body art is the modification of any part of the human body for artistic or aesthetic reasons. Nanotechnology is currently available to implant biometric devices in human beings, which can be monitored by software, satellites and utilized by Government and Industry. In fact several developers are currently bringing these technologies to the public and private sector at affordable prices. The context of “Technology Consumerism” compounded by Intentionality and Free-Will of its consumer’s results in many unintended consequences outlined in this paper. Geometry of Morphogenesis is the proposed theory for decoding body modification.

Social inequality in the evolution of human societies

2019 ◽  
pp. 98-120
Author(s):  
Georgi Derluguian
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Mass Violence ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Tangible Assets ◽  
Transition To Agriculture ◽  
New Institutions ◽  
High Level ◽  
Political Economic

The author develops ideas about the origin of social inequality during the evolution of human societies and reflects on the possibilities of its overcoming. What makes human beings different from other primates is a high level of egalitarianism and altruism, which contributed to more successful adaptability of human collectives at early stages of the development of society. The transition to agriculture, coupled with substantially increasing population density, was marked by the emergence and institutionalisation of social inequality based on the inequality of tangible assets and symbolic wealth. Then, new institutions of warfare came into existence, and they were aimed at conquering and enslaving the neighbours engaged in productive labour. While exercising control over nature, people also established and strengthened their power over other people. Chiefdom as a new type of polity came into being. Elementary forms of power (political, economic and ideological) served as a basis for the formation of early states. The societies in those states were characterised by social inequality and cruelties, including slavery, mass violence and numerous victims. Nowadays, the old elementary forms of power that are inherent in personalistic chiefdom are still functioning along with modern institutions of public and private bureaucracy. This constitutes the key contradiction of our time, which is the juxtaposition of individual despotic power and public infrastructural one. However, society is evolving towards an ever more efficient combination of social initiatives with the sustainability and viability of large-scale organisations.

Impacto de la comunicación de la responsabilidad social universitaria en la selección de universidad y efecto mediador de la reputación

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Erazo-Coronado ◽  
Sergio Llano-Arristizábal ◽  
Miguel Garcés-Prettel ◽  
Ana-María Erazo-Coronado
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
University Selection ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Institutional Websites

The emerging concept of university social responsibility (USR) consists in the fulfillment of the mission of the university in terms of ethical standards, community support, respect for human beings, and respect for the environment. Thus, universities must not only provide professional training but also instill ethical principles in students to allow them to behave as good citizens and help solve community problems. On the other hand, competition for students requires efficient management of university reputation and communication with their stakeholders, to demonstrate the accomplishment of the university’s mission and attract potential students. The objective of this paper is thus to explain the causal relationship between communication about university social responsibility (USR) activities through institutional websites and university selection, as well as the role of reputation. Research work was carried out based on an explanatory cross-sectional design, with a sample of 356 subjects from a population of 11th-grade students from public and private schools in the City of Barranquilla (Colombia). The results revealed that USR communication through institutional websites has a significant influence on university selection, not only directly but also indirectly, through reputation as a mediating variable. These findings contribute at a theoretical level by providing empirical evidence to understand and explain the analyzed topic. Furthermore, the results provide useful information to evaluate USR disclosure and implement strategies to make progress on USR issues. Resumen El naciente concepto de responsabilidad social universitaria (RSU) consiste en el cumplimiento de la misión de la universidad dentro de unos estándares éticos, de apoyo a la comunidad, respeto al ser humano y al medio ambiente. Así, pues, la universidad no sólo debe impartir formación profesional, sino inculcar a sus estudiantes principios éticos que les permitan comportarse como buenos ciudadanos y contribuir a la solución de los problemas de la comunidad. Por otra parte, la competencia entre universidades exige una gestión eficiente de su reputación y de la comunicación con sus distintos stakeholders, para demostrar a la sociedad el cumplimiento de su misión social, y para atraer estudiantes potenciales hacia la institución. Por lo tanto, este artículo tiene como objetivo explicar la relación de causalidad entre la comunicación de las prácticas de RSU en los sitios web institucionales y la selección de universidad, y el papel mediador de la reputación en esta relación. Para lograrlo, se llevó a cabo una investigación cuantitativa de nivel explicativo experimental y diseño transversal, con una muestra conformada por 356 sujetos, de una población de estudiantes de grado 11º de colegios públicos y privados de la ciudad de Barranquilla (Colombia). Los resultados revelan que la comunicación de las prácticas de RSU en los sitios web institucionales ejerce una influencia significativa directa en la intención de selección de universidad, e indirecta, a través de la reputación como variable mediadora. La evidencia empírica aportada representa un avance teórico en la comprensión y explicación del fenómeno estudiado, e igualmente servirá para que las universidades evalúen si están comunicando adecuadamente su responsabilidad social y adopten estrategias para avanzar en este aspecto.

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